It’s official, the fourth season of the Jersey Shore will premiere on August 4!

While the cast continues to film in the city of Florence, Italy, MTV made the official announcement this weekend. The press release promises the cast will “bring their trademark hilarity, fist-pumping and family dysfunction to the beautiful country” of Italy.

It gets even better as MTV has also green-lighted a fifth season. Yes, the network also announced that Season five will begin production in June. Once filming ends in Italy, the entire cast will return to the surf and sand of Seaside Heights, New Jersey right away to begin filming.

TMZ is however reporting that the cast is currently unaware of MTV’s plans to start filming season five right away. The cast was under the impression they would get a one month break and start filming in August. In fact, most of them are booked for club appearances all through July.

Sources say the cast will NOT be happy once they hear the news as they would rather get a break from filming and make money doing club appearances. The sources also add that the cast could decide to band together and stage a revolt. Oh the horror.

What is certain is that the 4th season will be filled with drama. As we reported, the poster couple for dysfunctional relationships, Ronnie and Sammi, are once again back together and fighting. Ronnie and The Situation also got into a fist fight which left Ronnie with bleeding knuckles and The Sitch with a shiner on his face. Plus Snookicrashed into a cop car though she was left unhurt. Should be a fun season!

TELL US – ARE YOU READY TO SAY G.T.L. IN ITALIAN? EXCITED ABOUT THE UPCOMING SEASON?